It’s official: Marks & Spencer to reopen in Brussels

Marks & Spencer will open a new store in 2015 in Belgium, located on Avenue de la Toison d'Or in Brussels. The rumour ran for a little time in Brussels’ real estate circles, but it was not until yesterday that the British chain confirmed the information. This means that M&S returns after more than ten years of absence in Belgium. The company left Belgium in December 2001, after the closure of the Rue Neuve store in central Brussels. Back then, financial problems had forced the chain, under the leadership of Belgian CEO Luc Vandevelde, to close 38 stores in mainland Europe in order to focus on English stores, leading to significant job losses. In autumn 2012, the chain opened a dedicated online shop for the Belgian market because, according to the British retailer, Belgians are among the consumers who most often use M&S’s delivery system.